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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (5/06) Xavier University President Dr. Norman C. Francis to Speak at Centenary College's Commencement May 6
SHREVEPORT, LA — Dr. Norman C. Francis, president of Xavier University and chairman of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, will speak at Centenary College of Louisiana's 2006 commencement ceremonies. Centenary's annual commencement and baccalaureate will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 6, in the Centenary Gold Dome. Some 210 students are candidates for degrees this year and will receive bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of music, master of arts in education and master of business administration degrees from Centenary. As president of the nation's only historically black Roman Catholic university since 1968, Francis has guided Xavier's growth both in size and dimension. During his tenure, the university has more than doubled its enrollment, broadened its curriculum, expanded its campus, and strengthened its financial base. Francis, the longest-sitting university president in the U.S., has been
at Xavier for more than four decades as a student and administrator. He
is credited with being the catalyst for nearly every building constructed
on the campus during the past 35 years. With much of the campus damaged
by flooding related to Hurricane Katrina last fall, Francis is overseeing
recovery of Xavier as well as chairing the governor's Louisiana Recovery
Authority, which is overseeing the state's overall recovery effort. Francis has also received 16 major awards, including the Times-Picayune
"Loving Cup" in recognition of his unselfish service to
the New Orleans community. - 30 - |
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